The Electric Connection’s Blog

Replacing Dangerous Wiring by Glendale Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

One of the biggest fears a homeowner can have is the thought of losing their house to a fire. Home fires are far too common. All it takes is a small mistake or a little accident to create a horribly devastating fire that destroys all of the world possessions a family owns. One of the leading causes of a home fire can be blamed on faulty wiring. This is generally through no fault of the homeowner. There are nearly 375,000 house fires each year. There are a few things you can do to reduce the risk of your home catching fire explains an electrician in Glendale. You can count on The Electric Connection team to provide you with more information related to electrical fires.

1. More than half of the fires in homes is caused by cooking. Be extra careful when using grease and always ensure the stove and oven are off when you go to bed or leave the house. Be attentive anytime you are cooking.
2. Heating is the second leading cause. If using a woodstove or fireplace, ensure it is properly cleaned and maintained.
3. Electric wiring that is old should be inspected by a Glendale electrician. Cloth-insulated wiring is outdated and unsafe and should be replaced.
4. Have a whole home electrical safety inspection completed by an electrician. Glendale homeowners will get a detailed report of potential hazards as well as things that absolutely should be addressed right away to prevent an accident.
5. Have working smoke detectors in every room. Consider hard-wired smoke detectors as well that are more effective at alerting the entire home to a fire.

Due diligence and being a little more attentive can help prevent fires in the home. If you would like an inspection of your wiring or need a quote for electrical repairs needed to make your home safer, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Bold Lighting Schemes by Burbank Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

We all have a unique style. Some people loathe being part of the mold. They want to be different and step outside of the box. This applies to the way they dress and the way they decorate their personal spaces. When you own your own home, it is all about expressing yourself with your favorite color pallets, artwork and even furnishings. Another way you can help bring your personality and style into your home is by choosing some bold, innovative lighting schemes with the help of your Burbank electrician. The team at The Electric Connection is here to help you make your personal style stand out.

You are no longer relegated to the standard light fixture in the center of a room or forced to rely on colored bulbs or quirky lamps to express your style. An electrician in Burbank can help bring out your personal style with a variety of installed light fixtures that are functional and bold or classic and elegant. It is all up to you. You can have several lights or a single one. That’s part of the joy of designing your space—you have all the power. You can choose how bright, how dark and how funky your lighting scheme is.

Once you have come up with what you want, you need to call your electrician. Burbank homeowners will need to trust the expert when it comes to the wiring and installation of each of the fixtures. You can ask for dimmer switches to be installed or a wallplate with several light switches that give you the freedom to control the lights from one place in the room. The possibilities are endless. Do some shopping around and find the fixtures that call to you. Then, give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your new lighting installation.

Water Heater Install by Beverly Hills Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Do you have an old water heater that sounds like a bowl of Rice Krispies when it is time for it to get to work? Maybe it isn’t heating the water as fast as you would like or as hot as you would like. A water heater is one of the most valuable appliances in your home and is used every day. It is important you keep it in good working condition so you can avoid the horrible blowouts that tend to happen when you are gone. When a water heater is old and rusted, the bottoms will fall out or leak and create a flood in your home that can cause extensive damage. It is better to be proactive and replace a water heater before it gets to that point. An electrician in Beverly Hills, like those at The Electric Connection can take care of the job for you.

There has been a lot of advancement in the field of water heaters over the past couple of decades. They are built to last as well as to be more energy efficient. While it may seem like a cost you can do without initially, think of the cost savings you are gaining by purchasing a new water heater that won’t have to constantly run to keep up with your hot water demands. Your Beverly Hills electrician can tell you the water heater in your home is one of the biggest users of electricity.

You can also prevent damage to the floors, carpet and walls of your home should the tank leak because it is giving out. The replacement is a relatively simple task when left in the capable hands of an electrician. Beverly Hills homeowners will appreciate the job being handled by a professional who will ensure the installation is clean and the tank is working. You can count on the crew at The Electric Connection to install your new water heater.

Electric Safety Enhancements with Glendale Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Keeping your home safe is a top priority. Locking your doors, taking care of tripping hazards and making sure there are no obvious areas that could be a danger to you and the people visiting your home is real concern. Sometimes, you can’t find every single, little hazard. This is why it is always a good idea to have an electrical safety inspection by a qualified electrician. Glendale homeowners can count on the team at The Electric Connection to complete the inspection and give them a detailed list of things that could be a problem.

Some of the biggest hazards are not always obvious. In many cases, an alert homeowner can identify electrical problems and call an electrician in Glendale to take care of it before it becomes a much bigger concern.

1. Electrical outlets that have black marks or don’t always work are telltale signs. Check the outlets in the bathroom and kitchen area. If they are not the GFCI outlets, you can help prevent electric shock by having the old outlets upgraded to the GFCI outlets.
2. Having an electrical inspection completed can identify problems within the breaker panel. This give a Glendale electrician the chance to peek inside and see what kind of wiring there may be throughout the house. It also reveals how much room is in the electric panel in case you need to add additional breakers to accommodate for those that may be overloaded.
3. Breakers that are constantly tripping should absolutely be checked out by a professional. As mentioned in number two, adding another breaker or two to the panel can help alleviate overloading a breaker.

These are some of the most common signs of electrical hazards that you can easily take care of. Give The Electric Connection a call today and have your home inspected to make those safety upgrades.

Managing Your Electricity by Burbank Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

When something is readily available and seems like it will never run out, we tend to overuse. This is the case with the electricity in our homes. We feel confident knowing we can flip a light switch and have light or turn on the coffee maker and it will work. Rarely is their a need to give a second thought to what we have plugged in in our homes. Electricity is endless—for the most part. However, every little bit we use, whether we need it or not, is costing us. What if you could be a little more mindful and manage your electricity a little better with these tips from an electrician in Burbank, like those at The Electric Connection.

It doesn’t take a lot of effort to reduce the amount of electricity you use on a daily basis explains an electrician. Burbank residents can save a few dollars up to much more by following these quick and easy suggestions.

1. Unplug your cell phone, laptop and tablet chargers when they are not in use. If you can, unplug the toaster and other appliances when they are not in use. Anything that is plugged in will draw a small current of electricity. When you look around your home, you will see that adds up fast.
2. Do what you can to take shorter showers. Even cutting your average shower by a couple of minutes every day adds up to an average of fifteen minutes for the week. Again, the less hot water you use, the less your hot water heater has to work to replace the hot water.
3. Switch out those old bulbs in each of your light fixtures with LED bulbs says a Burbank electrician. This is a quick and easy bill to cut the amount of electricity you use to light your home in half—maybe more.
4. Only run your dryer when it is full. This also goes for the washing machine and dishwasher. Wait another day and do one full load versus two half loads. Quick easy and huge energy saver.

If you would like to learn more about energy efficiency and how an electrician can help you make those changes in your home, call The Electric Connection.

Rental Property Remodels by Los Angeles Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Owning rental properties can be a lucrative investment. For some, they have the ability to rent out a portion of their large home, a small house in the back of their property or even a basement over an area over a garage. This is an excellent way to pay the mortgage payment on your own home or to supplement your income. In order to attract your ideal tenant, you will need to have a space that is beautiful as well as functional. Looks matter and your electrician in Los Angeles can help you transform that dated space into one that is gorgeous and appealing to potential renters. The team at The Electric Connection can help you make that happen.

Adding a little paint and replacing the flooring in a room or apartment is one way to revamp the place. You can also make it look more modern as well as inviting by updating the lighting in the space. This is especially helpful if the apartment you are creating is on the small side or in a basement with low ceilings explains an electrician. Los Angeles property owners will want to look into some of the trendy styles, like recessed lighting for low ceilings and track lighting for spaces that can work with a single fixture that spreads over an entire space.

Along with lighting, ensuring there is enough power in the apartment is key. Most people will need numerous outlets in the kitchen for the various appliances and outlets in the living area for entertainment systems with many components. Your Los Angeles electrician can add additional outlets to ensure a tenant isn’t forced to use extension cords that can be a bit of a hazard when not used properly. Give The Electric Connection a call today and have your rental property revamped.

Revamping Outdoor Lighting by Santa Monica Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Fall is upon us and it is easy to worry less about the outdoors and focus more on the inside of the house. Even though the weather may be a little cooler, it is still a great time for those outdoor gatherings that carry through into the evening hours. You can ensure your house looks inviting all year with new outdoor lighting that makes your house look fresh again. Your Santa Monica electrician can help transform your old and dated outdoor lighting scheme into one that pops and makes your house look great, even in the dark. All you need to do is call The Electric Connection and schedule your appointment.

Solar lights are great, but with the shorter days of fall and winter, the lights may not be enough to last throughout the night and into the late morning. This is why electric lights are often preferred by many landscape artists. An electrician in Santa Monica can work with you and your landscaper to determine where you want the light and take care of the installation process for you. Lighting up fountains, a play area or the patio are all possibilities and allow you to enjoy the cool fall nights.

There are many things you can do with electric lights that are not possible with solar varieties. If you have a particular shade tree or row of shrubs that you want to ensure is flooded in light for either beauty reasons or to make the landscaping safer, you will want to choose electric lights installed by an electrician. Santa Monica homeowners will love the flexibility as well as the control they gain with electric lights that can be set on a timer. It doesn’t hurt to have solar lights as a backup for power outages. If you are ready to update and revamp your outdoor lighting this fall, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Basement Game Room by Pasadena Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Have you always dreamed of having a nice, comfortable man cave? Or maybe you have teen kids living in the house who would love an area that can gather. If your basement is sitting empty and filled with nothing but boxes and cobwebs, it is time to consider a basement remodel. This is a great way to add value to your home while making your home more functional for your family. An electrician in Pasadena, like those at The Electric Connection, want to help you make the most of every square foot possible.

There are many possibilities when it comes to utilizing your basement as actual livable square footage. An office, game room, craft space or even a play area are all great ways to make your house feel much bigger. Imagine being able to clear out a crowded bedroom by placing extra toys, shelves and what not in a beautiful living space downstairs. Your Pasadena electrician can work with your contractor to ensure you have plenty of outlets, proper lighting and even phone and data lines. Having recessed lighting installed during the construction process is an excellent way to maximize ceiling height in a basement.

It is important you leave all of the wiring to an electrician. Pasadena homeowners will want to ensure their remodel is safe and up to code. This is also a great time to get an idea about the condition of your existing wiring as most of it tends to be exposed in the basement. Depending on the size of the area and what exactly you hope to achieve with your remodel, it may be necessary to add additional breakers to your electric panel. If you are thinking about making the most of your basement, give The Electric Connection a call today and get an idea of what will be needed for your electrical requirements.

Dangers of DIY Electrical Work by Beverly Hills Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

There is a great deal of satisfaction when you can tackle things around the house and take care of them by yourself. A trip to the home improvement store, a couple hours watching tutorials on the internet and you feel like you got in the bag. As if you are now a master builder and can take care of those things around the house that need a little attention. Here’s the thing; not all jobs around the house are as easy as they are made to appear in those videos. In fact, some are really quite dangerous and should never be attempted, no matter how prepared you think you are. Electricity is unforgiving. One small slip and you could be putting your life in serious jeopardy. It is best to leave all electrical jobs to a professional electrician in Beverly Hills, like those at The Electric Connection.

It may seem like you are throwing away money hiring a Beverly Hills electrician to take care of what you think is a small job, but think of the cost of a hospital stay or the alternative. It only takes a tiny mistake to result in an electric shock. Touching wires that are live or accidentally putting wires together that are not meant to be is a risk you take when you don’t have the proper training.

Even if you do managed to successfully complete the DIY side of an electrical job without electric shock, you must consider long term problems. Just because you didn’t get a jolt when putting in that new outlet or wiring that new light fixture, it doesn’t mean it was done right. It could be an electrical hazard that results in a fire explains an electrician. Beverly Hills homeowners should leave the electrical work to the people who have trained and gone to school to learn how to do it. Call The Electric Connection and protect yourself from yourself.

Wiring Hazards to Watch for by Pasadena Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

It can be difficult to know when the wiring in your home is not up to today’s current safety standards. It is a concern for many homeowners because of the serious dangers involved with faulty wiring. Home fires are often the result of bad wiring and in many cases, the homeowner wasn’t even aware there was a problem until it was too late. It only takes a small spark to cause a devastating fire. A spark happens when wires touch and in the right circumstances, the insulation pushed against the wires will go up in flames. Your Pasadena electrician has some information that can help you identify these hazards. You can always rely on the service at The Electric Connection for professional electrical help.

Some of the biggest clues are as follows;

*The age of the home. If it was built before 1960, you are likely dealing with outdated wiring—unless you know the electrical has been updated by an electrician in Pasadena.

*Flickering lights could mean a short. Shorts are bare wires that are not connected properly and could create a spark, igniting a fire.

*Outlets that don’t work suggest the wiring behind the outlet is not connected, which could be a serious fire hazard.

*Breakers that constantly trip for no obvious reason could mean a number of things, but it is always best to have it investigated.

*If you notice the smell of burning wires, which tends to be very distinctive, you have a problem that needs checked out.

These are some of the more obvious signs. If you suspect your wiring isn’t safe, call an electrician. Pasadena homeowners will appreciate an inspection by a professional that can identify any potential problems, making your home safer. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your electrical inspection or have your faulty wiring repaired right away.